I finally got around to installing some new light fixtures and trying out all of the different compact fluorescent lamps I ordered. I am a little disappointed and here's why:
1. Enclosures: Most compact fluorescents are marked as not suitable for use in fully enclosed fixtures. That seems straightforward but it isn't. Some manufacturers claim that it's a fire hazard because the lamps can overheat. Others claim that it shortens the life of the lamp but is not a fire hazard. There's some confusion as whether or not there's a difference between fully enclosed or fully enclosed and recessed. Some manufactures state one thing on the bulb and another on the packaging. To top it all off they usually state on the packaging that for outdoor use the lamps need to be enclosed.
2. Flickering: On lamp I tried, the TCP Deco Torpedo 14W Medium Base, flickered no matter which fixture I tried it in.
3. Problems with Dimming: Only some lamps are approved for use in dimmers. What they don't tell you is that the performance varies quite a bit by dimmer and that CF dimmables don't match the dimming range/performance of incandescents. I tried the Greenlite 23W Dimmable in three different fixtures with three different dimmers. Performance with one was completely unacceptable - it buzzed and flickered. Performance with the second fixture/dimmer was OK but it wouldn't dim very well and buzzed until the light was warmed up. Performance with the third fixture/dimmer was much better: minimal buzzing but it takes a second for the lights to go on once the switch is turned on and dimming performance is poor.
4. Brightness: One great advantage of CFLs is that you can use a much brighter light than you could otherwise. For example, if you have a sconce that uses candelabras and the maximum wattage for the fixture is 40W you can always use a 14W CFL that gives you the equivalent of 60W Incandescent.
